Luxembourg, 28/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - The day before the External Relations Council meeting on Tuesday 29 April 2008, Lithuania said it was not prepared to consent to adoption of the negotiating mandate for a new strengthened partnership agreement with Russia until Lithuania's demands have been met (see EUROPE 9651). Our position has not yet been fully taken into account and I am prepared to call for the question of the mandate for the EU-Russia negotiations to be removed from the agenda, explained Lithuanian foreign minister Petras Vaitiekunas to AFP. On Monday afternoon, the Slovenian Presidency was still planning for the decision on the negotiating mandate to be an 'A point' (approval without debate) at the Council. If the Lithuanians oppose adoption of this point, they will have to explain themselves to the other 26 ministers because the point will not be removed from the agenda, explained a Slovenian Presidency source. Dimitrij Rupel, who will be chairing the Council, said on Monday that he would be trying to find 'language' in the mandate that would keep the Lithuanians happy. Javier Solana said he was optimistic that an agreement would be reached. (H.B.)